Brachyspira hyodysenteriae contains eight linked gene copies related to an expressed 39-kDa surface protein

A tandemly linked set of four open reading frames (ORFs), identified as vspA-D (variable surface protein) had been identified from previous cloning and sequencing of clones from a genomic library constructed from Brachyspira hyodysenteriae strain B204. The predicted translation products of these closely related genes were homologous to (but not identical with) a characterized 39-kDa surface-exposed membrane protein from this animal pathogen. Additional screening of the genomic library has been performed to retrieve what are believed to be additional vsp genes including the one expected to encode this 39-kDa protein. Four new vsp genes have been identified and found to be associated in a second set of four tandemly linked alleles. This new gene cluster of 7481 nucleotides is not adjacent to the original vspA-D gene cluster described but does appear to have arisen from a gene (region) duplication event. The new vsp genes (identified as vspE-H) are oriented parallel to one another and appear to have a set of similar but distinct regulatory elements that may control separate expression of their ORFs. The four adjacent ORFs are of similar size (361-390 codons) and share from 83% to 90% identity in their amino acid sequence. The organization and homologies of these highly conserved multiple gene copies are discussed.